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Topic Review (Newest First)

09-25-2007 07:06 PM

kwaltersmi

We pulled the cushions out of our boat, removed the vinyl covers and soaked the foam in a mild solution of bleach and laundry detergent. The bleach kills the mold spores while the laundry detergent gives them that nice "spring air" scent. I have also "spot cleaned" really nasty areas on the foam with a more concentrated bleach solution and Lysol and/or Febreeze.

09-25-2007 07:03 PM

mygirls66

I had intended earlier to mention that if you are still smelling mildew in your boat after trying numerous things to clean your cushions... you may have mildew elsewhere. We had to wipe everything and I mean everything down with a diluted bleech and water mix. Ventillation is key...including on the hard.

09-25-2007 06:48 PM

sailingdog

Ozone, while it does have some benefits in destroying mold, mildew and microbes.... can cause serious problems with asthma, as well as help form smog. You're much better off just ventilating the boat properly...

09-25-2007 06:44 PM

mygirls66

on my last boat I took our cushions to to the drycleaner...seemed to work.

Solder mesh to output of neon transformer.
Hot Glue mesh to glass, leaving a TINY space between glass and mesh. leave a 2" ring of glass around the mesh (in other words, dont cut the mesh as big as the glass, make it smaller)

Plug in and test (DON'T for God's sake touch anything that is plugged in!!) If there is a light hum and blue glow from it, you are good to go. If you get a yellow or white arc, then you are arcing and need to isolate that section.

Now to make a fan powered unit for forcing it around, place the generator in a 5 gallon bucket, tape the top off and secure everything so it doesn't shift around.
Cut a hole for exhaust and one that is the size of your small computer fan or desk fan.
It is very important you don't make the fan run too fast. 80 CFM is barely a breeze felt on your hand. Think about a CPU fan on your PC. That's about right. If the air flow is too fast, it introduces Nitrogen Oxides into the air!

That's my plan, it works great. I'll get photos if I remember when I'm out at the boat next time. Run it for no more than 2 hours every few weeks for a good mildew and smell control. It even killed the smoke smell from my brother when he was aboard!

Stainless mesh lasts longer; you shouldn't have to worry about it breaking down after a few months of use. Watch it for arcing - if the glass is too thin (the mesh panels are too close together) it actually fries holes right through the glass. That's why I said look for colors, because they are the first indication you have an arc... well that and the sound. You should get a nice hum not a buzz.

09-25-2007 08:20 AM

thekeip

What you do is rent or make an Ozone generator. This is a device that hotels and car dealers use to get rid of any and all unpleasant odors. You plug it in for a few hours, having first opened all lockers. Don't hang around and breathe the smell...like fresh air after a lightning storm...it's toxic in quantity. But Ozone kills ALL spores.
howard keiper

This is worth its weight in gold, or you can make one from a very simple plan I have if you're feeling fancy with a neon transformer, a couple of glass jars, stainless steel mesh and some wire.

run it about 2 hours a week and you'll never have a smelly boat again. Don't run it too much necause the nitrogen oxide can kill the process and make people sick.

09-20-2007 08:02 PM

hellosailor

"how do I get the black mildew color off the"
There is no "black mildew color". That stuff IS THE MILDEW FUNGUS/SPORES and you need to remove it all, either chemically or mechanically. Bleach, steam cleaning, hydrogen peroxide, 3M Scrubbing pads....

And if all that fails, you entomb it in epoxy paints.

After all the cleaning is done, remember that the mildew WILL COME BACK unless you take steps to make sure the boat is kept warmer, drier, and well ventilated at all times.

09-20-2007 07:36 PM

sailingdog

There's also a new spray that was recently introduced that is designed to prevent mold and mildew on hard surfaces. While it isn't good for mattresses and upholstered items, it is a good thing to use to help prevent mold and mildew from spreading in a boat.

09-20-2007 10:34 AM

Lancer28

Wind - try this too... go to this website and even get a coupon for $2.00 off the first bottle.